Our sheep Dairy does Has Rules
- At Valley Shepherd LLC we strive to make the working and living
environment harmonious. Therefore we have developed some rules which help us to pay more
attention to our goals: farming well, making great cheese, learning, appreciating each
other, and enjoying the beauty of this place. Please study these rules and
guidelines. Abiding by them is a requirement for working here.
- Please note the distinction between "rules" and "guidelines" is
simply that the former tend to be more easily enforced than the latter. By no means does
this indicate that following the guidelines is any less important than following the
rules. We consider all the behaviors described here as essential to the smooth functioning
of our farm. An apt quote from British statesman, Lord Moulten: "The measure of a
society is the degree to which its citizens abide by the unenforceable."
Farm Rules
No recreational drugs on the farm.
(One violation of this rule is grounds for instant dismissal.)
Physical and verbal abuse are prohibited, as are threats of physical abuse.
No pets on the farm. 500 sheep +500 lambs is enough.
No smoking inside any building. Smoking is discouraged around other employees and prohibited
during work hours. Smoking in any dairy or cheese area is ridiculous.
Quiet time in farm house from 10 pm- 6 am. Music, TV, and conversation can
continue at a reasonable volume in places out of earshot of sleepers - which usually
includes the out-of-doors, The tractor shed etc.
Clean shared living spaces. Specific weekly and daily clean-up tasks will be
required for the common house. |
Farm Guidelines
Rude behavior is discouraged.
Alcohol consumption is discouraged, but allowed - in moderation, but never during
work hours..
Get enough rest. The work is demanding and should be executed efficiently and
in a state of clarity. (Partying with new intern friends late into the night is
discouraged. There's ample time for socializing during evenings.)
Television watching is okay, but we don't want television excess here. What is
television excess? Although there are TV's at the house, every month or two someone here turns
on the television
Music selection and volume should be agreed on in the communal spaces. |
Do all these rules make us seem like a mean bean farm?
We are actually kind of fun. And the farm is more fun when the rules are honored. Though
rules may seem to add to the work, the true purpose of them is to facilitate (and even
lessen) the work. When a farm is functioning well, when all the parts are working in
harmony, it can be of more service to others – like the way people can be when they
are healthy and happy.
We want you to have a good time!
When you come to work here, you come for a farm experience. You give much of yourself
– maybe more than you ever thought possible. The pay is OK, the work is hard, and
farming is always tough. We don't want you to miss out on an evening of star
gazing because you were trying to pick up after a messy housemate. We don't want you to
sleepily struggle through a morning of work because loud music kept you up late the night
before. We want you to have an adventure here of land, weather, sheep, cheese making, and
learning.
Rules and Guidelines
Barn Rules
Wear a watch. More than anything else, farming is about time and timeliness.
Time how long tasks take.
Follow our instructions. Sometimes an instruction will seem inappropriate and
you might be tempted to reinterpret it. Many of the reasons for doing a task in a specific
way are not readily apparent to the novice farmer. Although your supervisor might appear
to give flawed instructions, know that it's more likely that the instructions are
appropriate, but you haven't quite figured out yet why they are appropriate. Until you get
adequate experience, follow our instructions. If your instincts
insist that what we told you is wrong, make sure to convince us first before you change
the method.
Put equipment away. It is easy to set equipment down in the cheese room and forget about it.
Be conscious of the act of putting something down; We always seem to be looking for something around here.
Refrain from loud, raucous behavior during work time. It impairs learning,
shatters the tranquility, and interferes with the mental and emotional well-being of
others.
|
Field Guidelines
Listen carefully to instructions. Repeat them back to the instructor. Don't
presume to understand a complex instruction or question after two or three words have
escaped our lips.
When in doubt, ask questions. Ask questions even when you are not in doubt. Many
mistakes can be avoided by being very clear about the goal of a task and how to execute
it. |
Intern Instructions
